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The Giant Toad
The Giant Toad (Bufo marinus), also known as the Cane Toad or Marine Toad, is one of the largest toads in the world and is the largest species in its family. Since it eats a huge amount of insects, it is a huge help to the agriculture industry as it clears out hoards of insects that would otherwise destroy crops. Because of this, these toads have been imported to other locations from their native habitat and are considered the most introduced amphibian. The numbers of toads in some areas are high enough, however, that they are considered pests.
Giant Toads are native to Mexico, Central America, South America, and the southernmost areas of Texas. The native range extends from the Rio Grande Valley in Texas to Peru. These toads were, however, introduced to Australia, Hawaii, and Florida to control beetle populations that were destroying sugar cane crops, hence the name Cane Toad. Toads are amphibians, so they can be found on dry land and in water, although this species tends to be found on the ground or in trees more often than in water. They are typically found in forests and rainforests near a reliable, permanent source of water. They are especially active during the rainy season but will almost go dormant when it is dry or cold, hiding themselves in tight places such as logs, under rocks, and even underground. They are most active at night, although young toads and tadpoles seem to be active day and night.
Giant Toads are extremely large for an amphibian species, reaching lengths of up to 4-9 inches (15-23 cm) and weighing approximately 4 pounds (1.8 kg). The female is usually a little bigger than the male, but that seems to be the only difference between the two genders. The skin is reddish-brown to greenish-brown across the back, covered in many hard warts, and much lighter, gray, yellow, or white, on the underbelly. They have hard, bony heads with hard ridges of bone over the eyes that meet over the nose. There are large sacs, called parotid glands, over the shoulders that are filled with venom. This venom is released over the skin and is a defense mechanism as it will often make a predator sick if the toad is eaten. The back feet are webbed with a tough, leathery membrane.
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Interesting Fact: Giant Toads are able to shoot the venom far distances, and it comes out as a thick, white substance that can cause paralysis, blindness, and even death.
Giant Toads are not picky eaters and will consume just about everything they find. They have been noted to eat pet food left out around residential areas, rice, carrion, and garbage. The primary food source, however, is insects, including ants, termites, crickets, and beetles. They have also been known to eat snakes, birds, and small mammals, such as mice. Tadpoles will eat underwater plants and algae and have often been known to eat other toad eggs.
Reproduction in the Giant Toad is interesting in that either sex is capable of egg laying. Male toads have an ovary that will become active if something happens to damage the testicle. Toads breed all year long, and each female can produce two clutches of eggs each year. Male toads will gather around the edges of a pond or other water source and call to the females. The female toads will then release streams of eggs, which are fertilized out in the open by the males. Typically, females will release anywhere from 8000 to 35,000 eggs at a time. Once fertilized, the eggs are left floating on the water, sometimes attached to debris or water plants. The eggs can hatch anywhere from one day to a week, releasing the tadpole. Tadpoles tend to gather together underwater, feeding and swimming, and this makes them vulnerable to predators. It takes about 45-55 days to develop into a small toad, or a toadlet. Toadlets then make their way to land where they again gather in large groups. Because of this, it is estimated that only 0.5% of these toadlets will live to reach their full maturity, which is one to two years of age.
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